Vegans protest in front of Salt Bae restaurant in İstanbul

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The Independent Animals Rights Group, a vegan activist group, staged a protest in Galata, İstanbul to mark the October 2 Day of Non-violence and October 4 World Animal Day.

Wearing t-shits that read "Be vegan" and "Respect the right to life," members of the groups gathered in front of Salt Bae, a chain of luxury steak restaurants owned by Nusret Gökçe, a world-renowned chef.

They distributed leaflets to people and read out a statement.

"We call on everyone to think about the violence and the pain suffered by animals held captive in farms," the group said. "Every year, nearly 100 billion land animals are slaughtered for their meat; they are exploited for the seizure of their milk, eggs, skin and honey

"These animals, which have the instincts of feeling pain and joy and protecting their cubs, are held captive in terrible conditions in production facilities and their right to life is being taken away from them.

"These animals, which have consciousness and emotions like humans, do not differ from cats and dogs that we feed at our homes, but the cruelty against them is way beyond the estimates.

"Besides the horrific conditions the animals kept and exploited in farms are emotionally terrorized as well. They are never allowed to stay together with their cubs.

"Cows are impregnated by bull sperm, which is regularly put in their bodies by humans for them to produce milk. Cows, whose pregnancy are nine months like humans, are forcibly separated from their calves after birth.

"While the mother cow, whose milk is seized, screams for her calf for days with great pain; the calf is placed in a separate place like an object. This cycle, which functions as a continuous killing machine, continues until the mother cow can no longer give birth. And eventually, both mother and calf are slaughtered for meat.

"It is in the hands of the people to put an end to the violence experienced by animals that are slaughtered by being treated as property in farms, production facilities and factories. Do not be a part of this violence; try a vegan lifestyle, which is the best way for people, animals and the environment." (EMK/VK)